Beginner's Guide - How do I get started with my QNAP NAS?

Overview

The QNAP TS-264 and TS-464 are both suitable for home and small office use, but they differ in several important ways.

Comparison

Recommendation

• Choose TS-464 if you need more storage capacity or advanced RAID options.
• Choose TS-264 for lower storage needs, smaller spaces, or a tighter budget.

Overview

QTS and QuTS hero are two operating systems you can run on your QNAP NAS. Each offers unique features.

Comparison

Recommendation

• If you prioritize high performance and a broad app ecosystem, use QTS.
• If you need advanced data protection and storage features, choose QuTS hero.
• Most beginners start with QTS, but you can switch to QuTS hero if needed.

Solution

1. Back up all important data from your NAS.
2. Power off your NAS and remove all storage devices (including M.2 SSDs). This step is required to start the initialization process and to change the NAS operating system.
3. Connect your NAS to the internet, then power it on without any drives installed.
4. Sign in to the NAS. The initialization screen will appear.
5. Select QuTS hero under the Switch OS heading and follow the instructions to complete installation.
6. After installation, power off your NAS, reinstall your storage devices, and restart it.
7. Start the initialization process

Further reading

• Can I switch My NAS OS? A Practical Guide between QTS and QuTS hero

Procedure

1. Insert your hard drives or SSDs into the NAS drive bays.
2. Connect the NAS to your local network and power it on.
3. Download and install Qfinder Pro on a computer on the same network.
4. Use Qfinder Pro to locate your NAS and launch the setup wizard.
5. Follow on-screen instructions to initialize your NAS, create an admin account, and configure storage.

Further reading

• Getting started with NAS storage
  
• QTS initialization
• QuTS hero initialization

Overview

The Home folder feature enables private storage spaces for each user, accessible only by them and NAS administrators.

Solution

1. Create user accounts using Control Panel > Users.
2. Enable Home Folder support in Control Panel > Privilege > Users > Home Folder.
3. Each user logs in and accesses their personal Home folder, which is private by default.

Further reading

• Enabling home folders
• Can I Move the Home folder to Another Volume?

Overview

HybridMount is a QNAP application that enables fast access to cloud storage by mounting remote cloud services.

Procedure

1. Install the HybridMount app from the App Center on your NAS.
2. Open HybridMount and click Add Cloud Drive.
3. Select your cloud storage provider (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Wasabi Cloud, myQNAPcloud Storage,...etc.).
4. Follow the prompts to sign in and authorize access.
5. Finish configuring and specify how you want to access the cloud files on your NAS.

Further reading

• HybridMount

Overview

QNAP provides several options for backing up and synchronizing your PC or laptop with your NAS, including Qsync for real-time file sync and NetBak Replicator for scheduled backups (Windows).

Procedure (Qsync Client on Windows or Mac)

1. Download and install the Qsync Client for Windows or Mac from the QNAP Utilities page.
2. Launch Qsync Client on your computer.
3. Click Add NAS and enter your NAS’s IP address or myQNAPcloud ID, your username, and password.
4. Once connected, choose the local folder(s) on your PC or Mac that you want to sync with your NAS.
5. Select or create the target shared folder on your NAS for synchronization.
6. Adjust sync options as needed (for example, enable two-way sync or selective sync).
7. Click Apply or Start Sync. Your files will now be synchronized between your computer and your NAS.

Further reading

• How to use Qsync to synchronize files between the NAS and my other devices?
• Configuring QNAP NetBak Replicator
• Using Instant Backup in NetBak Replicator

Procedure

1. Install QNAP’s Qfile Pro app on your iOS or Android phone.
2. Connect to your NAS using account credentials and either your NAS’s IP address or a myQNAPcloud ID.
3. Use the app to upload or back up your photos, videos, and files to your NAS.
4. Enable automatic photo backup if desired.

Further reading

• How to back up photos and videos on my smartphone using Qfile Pro?

Explanation

QNAP apps can back up your files (photos, videos, documents), but cannot create a complete image of your phone’s system. Focus on regularly backing up your important files. Use your phone manufacturer's backup options for system settings and apps.